Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging test that generates pictures of inside of the body using magnetic fields and radio waves.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of medical imaging that generates pictures of the inside of the body using magnetic fields and radio waves. Doctors use MRIs to diagnose a host of injuries and illnesses, from spinal cord injuries to multiple sclerosis to cancer.
An MRI can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit if a healthcare professional misreads the results, causing the patient to receive an improper diagnosis that delays or prevents getting care for their condition.
If a doctor misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose your condition due to an MRI error, a medical malpractice lawyer can help. Call us at 888-526-8947.
Why Doctors Perform MRIs
Healthcare professionals perform MRIs because it is a highly effective, non-invasive, and low-risk way to see what is going on inside a patient’s body. Without MRIs, it would be much more difficult to diagnose a host of serious internal conditions, such as aneurysms and cancerous tumors.
Performed correctly, an MRI produces a clear, vivid, high-resolution image of the part of the body under examination, such as the chest or spinal cord. A healthcare professional may then examine the MRI results for abnormalities. From there, the doctor may make a diagnosis.
Risks of MRIs
Most issues that stem from MRIs happen not because of the test itself but because of a healthcare professional misread or misinterpreted its results.
In rare cases, however, an MRI can pose risks to the patient. Specifically, a patient with metal in his or her body may experience complications from an MRI. A healthcare professional has a duty to find out if a patient has any of the following:
- A prosthetic joint made of metal
- An artificial heart valve
- An implantable defibrillator
- A pacemaker
- Metal clips
- Cochlear implants in the ear
- A bullet or shrapnel embedded in the body
Even certain tattoos may contain traces of metal that can react poorly with the magnetic fields of an MRI. Pregnant women should be wary of receiving an MRI, as the effects of magnetic fields and radio waves on a developing fetus are unclear.
Call Newsome | Melton Today at 888-526-8947 — Free Medical Malpractice Consultation
If a healthcare professional misread your MRI, resulting in a misdiagnosis, or you suffered an injury during the test itself, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
If you or someone you love has been a victim of medical malpractice or negligence, a lawyer from Newsome | Melton can help you hold the responsible party liable and collect the compensation you deserve. Our medical malpractice attorneys fight for the rights of injured victims.
For a free, no-risk case evaluation, call our team at 888-526-8947.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Frequently Asked Questions
Absent exceptional circumstances, a medical malpractice case cannot be reopened after it has settled. Once you have signed the settlement documents—including the release—and received your check, your claim usually closes. You cannot go back and ask for more money, even if your case was worth more than you received. An attorney from Newsome | Melton can
Read MoreTerminal illness refers to an illness for which there is no cure and which is expected to result in the death of the patient within a relatively short period of time. Many people immediately think of advanced or metastatic cancers when thinking about terminal illnesses; however, a great number of diseases are sadly terminal, lacking
Read MoreMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - News Articles
According to research conducted by John Hopkins University, 10 to 15 percent of the United States adult population have gallstone disease and around 800,000 operations are performed each year. The majority of patients suffering from gallstones do not require surgery, but the procedure is very common and statistically very safe. Billy Pierce, who is now
Read MoreWhen Kevin Clanton walked into the Windsor Health Center in June 2008, then just 28-years-old, he could have never anticipated experiencing kidney failure four years later. But after hearing arguments from his lawyers and an attorney representing the federal government, Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled that the kidney failure and subsequent transplant could have been avoided
Read More